Understanding Pests in Your Home

Nobody wants to share their home with uninvited guests! Common household pests in the UK include:

• Rodents: Mice and Rats (can spread disease, cause damage).
• Insects: Ants, Cockroaches (can contaminate food, reproduce quickly), Wasps/Bees (stings, nests), Bed Bugs (itchy bites, hard to eradicate), Fleas (from pets, itchy bites), Silverfish (damage paper/fabrics).
• Other: Birds (nesting in eaves/lofts can cause noise/damage).

The key to managing pests is often prevention, early detection, and knowing when to seek professional help.

Your Duties & Prevention Tips

As a contract holder, you have a responsibility to keep your property clean and take reasonable steps to prevent pest infestations. Many pest problems arise from poor hygiene or attractants within the property.

Key Prevention Measures:

• Maintain Cleanliness: Regularly clean your home, especially the kitchen and dining areas. Wipe up food spills immediately.
• Proper Food Storage: Store all food, including pet food, in sealed, airtight containers. Don't leave food uncovered on countertops.
• Waste Management:
  • Empty internal bins regularly, especially those containing food waste.
  • Ensure external bins are sealed and secure, and put them out for collection on the correct day. Bring them back in promptly.
  • Do not leave rubbish bags outside the property.
• Tidy Environment: Keep your home tidy and clutter-free, reducing hiding places for pests.
• Report Early: If you notice even early signs of pests (e.g., droppings, gnaw marks, suspicious bites, seeing a few insects), report them immediately. Early action can prevent a larger infestation.
• Seal Entry Points (Small): If you notice small gaps around pipes or under doors, you can use draught excluders or fillers to block them. For larger gaps, report to FlatHomes.

FlatHomes' Responsibilities & When to Report

FlatHomes (or your landlord) is responsible for treating pest infestations that are caused by a structural defect in the property or if the infestation existed before you moved in.

When to Report to FlatHomes:

• Infestation Before Tenancy: If you discover pests very soon after moving in, suggesting they were present before you occupied the property.
• Structural Issues: If pests are entering due to holes in walls, broken drains, gaps in the roof, or other structural defects that you cannot reasonably fix yourself.
• Severe Infestations: For large or persistent infestations (e.g., rats, mice, bed bugs, wasps nests) that cannot be controlled with standard DIY measures.
• Communal Areas: In HMOs, if pests are present in communal areas (kitchen, living room, hallways) that are FlatHomes' responsibility to maintain.

How to Report:

1. Use Our Online Portal: This is the quickest and most efficient way to report.
2. Provide Details: Include the type of pest (if known), where you've seen them, how many, signs of activity (droppings, bites, damage), and how long it's been occurring. Photos are very helpful.
3. Do Not Delay: Early reporting helps prevent infestations from becoming worse and more costly to treat.

What Happens Next?

Once you report a pest issue to FlatHomes, we will:

• Assess the Situation: We will evaluate the cause of the infestation.
• Determine Responsibility: If the issue is due to a structural defect or existed prior to your tenancy, FlatHomes will arrange professional pest control.
• Advise on Tenant Responsibility: If the infestation is deemed to be due to cleanliness or lifestyle within the property, we will advise you on the steps you need to take to manage and eradicate the pests. In such cases, the cost of professional treatment may be your responsibility.

Important Considerations

• Do Not Use Dangerous DIY Methods: Avoid using strong chemicals or unsafe traps without professional knowledge. This can be dangerous for you, other occupants, pets, and the environment.
• Cost Recovery: If a pest infestation is found to be caused by your actions or negligence (e.g., poor hygiene, attracting pests), FlatHomes may charge you for the cost of professional treatment.
• Access: You must allow FlatHomes or their appointed pest control contractors access to the property to investigate and treat the infestation, provided you have received proper notice.

Useful Resources

• Cardiff Council Pest Control: Your local council may offer pest control services, sometimes at a charge, or can provide advice.
  Cardiff Council Pest Control
• British Pest Control Association (BPCA): Provides information and a directory of qualified pest control professionals.
  BPCA Website
• FlatHomes Contract Holder Resource Hub